Kenash is unique in that it will has no driving middle class. The stand-ins for the middle class in Kenash are simply be the travelers passing through. These people are comprised of caravan workers, guards, quartermasters, and all sorts of travelers and tourists. While this seems awkward in a farming society, Kenash is made up of two main groups - the haves, and the have-nots. Every single permanent member of Kenash will fit into one of these two groups. A person is either a member of the upper class and part of a plantation family or they will be a slave owned by that family. Every single business in Kenash is owned and controlled by a Plantation Family. Every worker in Kenash is visibly marked on their face for all to see with the symbol of their owners. New, wealthy people, may move into Kenash and buy land and start a plantation, but that is the ONLY way to gain wealth via immigration without joining a family. Far easier is that you may also marry into a family.
There is a third group, the freeborn, who linger within Kenash but are not ever truly part of the culture of Kenash. These freeborn are often immigrants that find themselves in Kenash and fail to move onward. Freeborn are often subject to slavery or marriage, and must tread very carefully within Kenash' lawless confines. No one entering Kenash as a free man or woman are automatically considered freeborn. The title must be earned and bestowed upon the individual by a Magistrate or at the appeal of a family to The Magistrate. The easiest way to survive for a freeborn is to take employment with a family or make oneself invaluable to the whole of Kenash. Employment by a family or if a family owes a debt to the freeborn will often result in the family paying a freeborn boon to get a freeborn marked as 'free'. Often Healers of the Opal Order fall under such categories. A second, lesser known means of survival in Kenash is to bribe the Magistrate of Kenash. For a sliding scale of Mizas, a freeborn can often grease the palms of the Magistrate and receive a brand on the inside palm of their hand - the mark of the freeborn - that allows them to remain free and avoid the slavers and politics of the family. The Magistrate has the final say in this matter. Once a freeborn is branded as thusly, the only way to change their freeborn status is to marry into a family or to have their brand removed by someone skilled in such arts ie a Brander.
Slaves can never make the transition from slave to master (with the exception of the Zulaca Family - See Below). If one's face is branded in Kenash, one is owned and owned one's entire life unless that person can somehow escape Kenash and move elsewhere. If one is not part of a family (by arrangements with a storyteller), and you are starting in Kenash, you MUST be a slave from elsewhere and your very first posts in Kenash will be an auction thread where you are sold by traders to one of these dynasties and branded.
✥The Kenash Dynasties✥
✥The Paille Family
Leader: Steven Paille
Race: Human, Drykas
Plantation Name: Stormsgrace
Symbol: Swirl of Wind
Description:
The Paille family has an overwhelming number of Stormwardens in it and is perhaps the most volatile yet easily necessary family in the Swamp. The Paille seem, for all their restlessness, to be more accepted as committee leaders and the most trusted to be fair in decision making. They really do tend to get along with all the other dynasties despite their numerous stormwardens. Helping to control the weather and thus the flooding of crops, this family has an equal number of men and women within its depths. The Paille can trace their linage back to the Drykas of the Grasslands. Their founding father was a striderless Drykas who came to help with the settlement of Kenash and become a farmer. It was discovered that his ties to the land ran deep and this family was the first to introduce cotton to the region where only Tobacco was attempted prior. His Stormwarden lover, a true bonded Drykas, followed him into exile, and together they built a leggacy that still stands today. In fact, within the city, the most profitable shop is Paille owned where stormgems are sold.
✥The Konrath Family
Leader: Lorenzo Konrath
Race: Akalak & Konti
Plantation Name: Boldvine
Symbol: Vine
Description:
The Koranth family is made up entirely of Akalaks and Konti. There are occasionally human women taken to wife by the Akalak patriarchs, but most do not last more than a pregnancy or two before they vanish. All illegitimate children gotten on slaves are kept and embraced in this family with open arms. Ruthless, with extremely good fighters, the Koranth boys are a force to be reckoned with in the actual city itself. Being one of the only families without its own security force, the Koranth Dynasty needs none. Each and every boy, trained in farming or no, knows how to fight. And quite a few of the daughters do as well.
✥The Askara Family
Leader: Banjemin Cherales Mahtu Askara the Tenth
Race: Human
Plantation Name: Formally, Sweet Home Askara and, informally, Shara
Symbol: A banjo crossed over a sickle
Description:
While the roots of most Kenash Dynasties run fairly deep, it is the Askara's that run the deepest. Ten generations old, it was Banjemin Askara the First who sowed the seeds of the very first tobacco crops in the region. It was he and his wife, Elisaba, who opened the doors to their then very humble home to members of the Paille and Morealis families, as they came seeking a different way of life. And, as would be expected of such a long-lived family, one needs to look no further than the Askara's to understand where many of Kenash's traditions and values - most of which are upheld to this very day - originated.
With the birth of each generation, came the need - nay, the blinding desire - for additional wealth and power, which, in turn, resulted in the classes growing further and further apart. The harder the family pushed its agenda - usually with great success, since, at the time, there was very little standing in their way - the deeper the divide grew between those who were blood and those who were not. By the time Banjemin the Third was in power, there was a clearly defined line drawn in the rich soil of the swampland. The opulent upper class stood proudly on one side, while the petulant slave-class groveled on the other.
Yet, as with most families - big or small, rich or poor - the Askara's began to suffer more and more from inner turmoil and angst, which, in this particular case, was fueled by greed and corruption. Although, to the family's credit, those gazing in from the outside would never be the wiser, for the Askara's had a certain knack for covering up their sins with colorful diversions in the form of flawlessly-executed, lavish parties and expertly-crafted, luxurious goods, as well as fanciful tales and scandalous - often self-created - rumors.
Bizarre and unusual mandates soon became the norm around Sweet Home Askara, starting with the family utilizing only human slaves between the ages of eighteen and thirty-six. To further enhance this strange notion, the females were relegated to the fields as the males remained inside, serving as attendants of the manor or keepers of the family's business ventures, of which there were many. Then, to draw even more attention away from their numerous secrets - which included the likes of murder and incest - Banjemin the Second, nearing his demise, decreed that the leader of the family would forever more be bound to a partner of the same sex. As for the nature of their relationship, it mattered not if they actually consummated it or simply lived as siblings did. In one form or another, they would be committed to each other until death.
Seizing the opportunity to heighten the family's already eccentric reputation, Banjemin the Third immediately took a Drykas lover; however, in his mind he initially saw the union as an excellent business venture, reasoning that their reputation as proficient horse handlers would serve the family well. Little did he know as he signed the binding contract that he would eventually fall madly in love with Syk'el Silvertongue. Therefore, upon his deathbed, just as his father had before him, he decreed that the leader of the family would forever remain a male, take the name Banjemin Cherales Mahtu, and be bound to a Drykas male as well, who would also take the name Syk'el, in honor of his soul mate.
So, several generations later, the Askara Family is primarily known for four things: bountiful crops of grade one tobacco, opulent shops of exquisite wares, expertly bred horses, and whimsical - sometimes utterly ridiculous - traditions and decrees.
"Don't be such an Askara!" --a derogatory remark often muttered among the slave-class when someone does something silly or stupid
✥The Sitai Family
Leader: Dervain Sitai
Race: Human
Plantation Name: Bloodflower.
Symbol: A rose.
Description:
The Sitai Family deals in addictive substances more than any other crop normally grown in Kenash. They primarily deal with tobacco and hemp and run businesses dealing with perfume and aphrodisiacs. However, they are most notable in the tobacco business and make a great deal more money than other plantations with tobacco do. The amount of land the Sitai possess is a good testament to just how much tobacco they are able to grow, although some parts of their land are more suited to hemp and sugarcane.
Their extracurricular dealings include selling recreational drugs and mixing them with many different types of food to cater to the tastes of their clientele. They have discovered plants in the swamp that release pleasant odours when crushed or distilled and use these to make their perfume and soaps with. They are unmatched in their talents with making tobacco actually taste different, although it remains relatively weaker than the tobacco produced by the Rajor Family.
Surprisingly, the slaves sold by the Sitai Family are in better condition than a lot of others often for sale. They are typically adept in seduction and have been used for some of the parties thrown by the Sitai Family in the past. Sales of these slaves usually amount to much money and greater attention to the person who buys them. Owning one is often reason enough to have more guests than usual during parties.
✥The Lorak Family
Leader: Lorana Lorak
Race: Human, Vantha
Plantation Name: Whitesnake
Symbol: A coiled serpent.
Description:
The Lorak hail from the far north, however their reasons for coming as far south as Kenash has always been the source of rumours and controversy. Even so, they have risen up to becoming a strong Dynasty in their own right within the last fifty years, brought up from slavery by the sheer will of trust in their own abilities and their unparallelled talent with medicine.
They settled on the banks of the Suvan where they could take seaweed and use it in tonic brews. They chose to farm tobacco and cotton on their land, finding that both had some use in medicinal practices, and went to work building up a massive dynasty with these two crops alone until they attained the amount of power they currently hold. Once settled with their wealth, and finding they had no room for another crop to grow, they began to look into working the position of doctors and healers on the side as a way to increase profit without having to cull some of their crop and grow something that would make them more money. They hold the positions of the city's best doctors now. It has been rumored that some of the members hold gnosis marks from Rak'keli, but if it weren't for the considerable skill most of these members have with medicine the rumor wouldn't be around at all.
✥The Draer Family
Leader: Orkat Draer
Race: Human, Svefra
Plantation Name: Riverwave
Symbol: A wave
Description: The Draer family's plantation may seem to be in an unfortunate location at first, but to the Svefra that live there, it's practically paradise. There is quite a lack of dry ground in the area, instead filled with tall water growing plants, especially trees. The soil under the water, however, is quite possibly even better than the land on other plantations. So to solve this problem, the inventive Draer family grows it's crops on floating gardens of sorts. The same technique was also used to create sturdy pathways in between the wide spread isles that dot the swamp. Though some houses are built on dry ground, quite a few of the members live in houseboats, finding them an excellent combination of transportation and living areas. A by-product of the gardens is that they eventually create their own little island, now not floating. Instead of continuing to grow their usual crops on these islands, they have small groves of cacao trees, which flourish on the nutrient-filled soil. The chocolate derived from the beans is said to be some of the best.
✥The Morealis Family
Leader: Dimitri Morealis
Race: Human
Plantation Name: Blacksugar
Symbol: A Black Diamond over three tall black pillars
Description:
The Morealis family has existed in Kenash since it was first formed. They were one of the original families to take a swathe of land for themselves, growing bountiful harvests of sugarcane that they’re so well known for. One of the richer families in Kenash, although they do not have power over weather, dominion over assassins, or a corner market on beasts and addictions, they sport the most owned land of any family in Kenash. Their dynasty remains a financial pinnacle in Kenash’s economy. They began with sugarcane, which is how their plantation received its name…but have since expanded to produce cotton and tobacco as supplementary crops.
The family is well known for their celebrations and strict code of honor by which they appear to conduct their business. None have ever seen a Morealis act anything less than polite to even a hated enemy, but somehow this perceived weakness does not prevent them from gaining many goals on their agenda, and even perhaps some…less known to the other families.
The Morealis are the sugar kings of Kenash and make good on that perceived royalty. Those of their immediate family are always trained in rhetoric and speaking from an early age, along with other aspects of high culture they use to try and distinguish themselves from the other dynasties. Some have said that to join a Morealis dinner party is to memorize a complex dance of form and instrument so difficult, it is any wonder why they bother at all.
✥The Radacke Family
Leader: Mica Radacke
Race: Human
Plantation Name: Whiplash
Symbol: A diagonal tilde (~) crossed over a hammer
Description:
Of all the families in Kenash, the Radacke are perhaps looked upon with the most caution due to their volatile nature and unusual crops. The land they own is the least fertile of the lands around Kenash, and many of their fields skirt the grasslands just outside Kenash where very little of value can be grown and attacks are constant. They make a modest profit on their tobacco fields, but are better known for their crops of dye plants. The Radacke are the only family that has fields for indigo...a particularly durable and valued dye.
Tyrus Radacke was an ex-slave from Sunberth. Before that, he served as an architect and builder in the city of Zeltiva. He and several slaves surprised their captors while being taken to Kenash in the early days and ended up selling the captors as slaves for land when they finally reached the city. Theirs has been a long road up. With meager means they were one of the smaller and most easily bullied families. Even with the extra coin Tyrus made designing superior, if not Zeltivan themed structures in Kenash, it was barely enough to keep his line afloat. Their land could not contend with some of the plantation giants and so Tyrus made the decision to involve himself in the slave trade, a market he knew about first hand. Recruiting slavers from outside Kenash, Tyrus worked to breed them into his family in order to ensure loyalty and family ties. Centuries later, the Radacke are brutal slavers.
The Radacke way is to brutalize their product mentally and physically to ensure the ‘fight’ is removed from them. While not the prettiest, it can be argued that the Radacke slaves are longer lasting and often hardier than the Ackina kelvics. Predating the Ackina family, the Radacke own the building where the slave trade is conducted from, designed by Tyrus. Much of the brutish Sunberthian is still in this family and the way they are viewed. Despite being a dynasty, not many of the Radacke family dress the part. They prefer heavy tattooing, making their bodies a tapestry to their accomplishment and rank within the family.
Tyrus taught his family what he knew about architecture. He believed that if Kenash was to survive on such marshy grounds, strong structures would need to be erected with powerful foundations in order to keep them from sinking into the marsh. His children and now his line share that belief and it is said that if you want a new building built, you go to the Radacke.
✥The Lynint Family
Leader: Kaljia [KALE-gea] Lynint
Race: Human
Plantation Name: Silverbite.
Symbol: A crocodile.
Description:
Historically, the Lynint family has existed since the founding days of Kenash, but it has been only in the last decade that they have become far more renowned and intimidating. Kaljia Lynint takes full responsibility for the newfound respect her family has garnered and this is often echoed among several of her meeker peers.
While their trade rests almost exclusively with the growing and selling of sugarcane, the Lynint are also liable to take animals from the nearby Uvic Lake and other places in the swamp and train them to help make money on the side as well as double as an additional incorruptible security force.
While they have a great deal of land put aside for growing sugarcane, they have parts of their land separated for the tending of animals. Shallow pools for crocodiles, otters and beavers rest beside a small creek where snakes inhabit. They make the most of their money when it comes to what they make off of animal sales by selling their venomous serpents. Even with these sales, though, and their exclusivity with animals, the Lynint have made most of their fortune with sugarcane than anything else and will continue to do so.
✥The Rajor Family
Leader: Shahessrajor
Race: Dhani, Constrictor
Plantation Name: Smokesend
Symbol: Billowing Smoke
Description:
Sick of Myrians, dank living conditions, and the oppressiveness of Zinrah, Shaessrajor set out from Falyndar over a century ago to find a new land for her and her brood to settle and serve Siku on their own terms. Known for their incredibly strong tabacoo, the Rajor family has rarely had to use their superior strength and size to get what they want, for their cunning and wit has brought them quite far among the families of Kenash. They are known for creating elaborate cruelties to impart upon those slaves that do not serve them accordingly, and if one was to ever ask a Rajor what the secret to their tabacco was, the response would be something like this...
"Why, the fear in the blood of our sslavesss of courssse."
✥The Ackina Family
Leader: Morrison Ackina
Race: Human
Plantation Name: Clawstone
Symbol: Three vertical slashes
Description:
One of the most recent families to claw their way up the food chain in Kenash, the Clawstone plantation has risen up in the ranks due to a distinctive ability to create a demand in the dynasties of Kenash. They supply the main source of meat to the city, but also provide another valuable service as well that all families are eager to look into: Slaves
The Ackina family is one of the newest Dynasties, and has raised themselves up from a small, but fertile plot of land, to a whole gamut of property in about a half century. The original purpose of the plantation was for corn, alfalfa, and the meat products to feed off of it, namely swine and cows. This is still a major part of the Ackina's profits of course, and now they use their funds to run another quite valuable asset they have maintained, which is their Kelvic slaves. Treating their property well, but ensuring obedience and loyalty over all, the Ackina family are able to breed and raise a reliable stock to tend to their herds and fields, as well as share with the surrounding families...for a price. The best of their crop are kept as guards, overseers, and companions for the family, but let it never be said that any of the Kelvic brought to the market or bought and sold in clandestine meetings with other dynasties are of any lesser quality. After all, they wouldn't be so successful if their product wasn't sound...
✥The Zulaca Family
Leader: Carthrys Zulaca
Race: Nuit
Plantation Name: Godstouch
Symbol: A Starburst
Description:
The Zulaca family is perhaps the strangest dynasty currently in Kenash. They hold a moderate amount of land for their dynasty, but their conduct and crop elevate them to the upper tiers of the dynasties. Zulaca is particularly known for their hybridized crop, colored cotton, sweet tobacco, and other strange combinations of the staple exports within Kenash to create a niche market no other family can adequately touch. Most insist that the old nuit is using some form of magic to alter crops and then seed them through his lands, but if there is truth to that, Carthrys keeps it coyly hidden. Zulaca wasn’t always a nuit, but a gardener and botanist. He was among the first people to come to the lush land and has been experimenting with the hybridization of crops ever since.
Becoming a nuit has only leant him more time to perfect his methods and pass them along. Cathrys is not a typical nuit. There is little shifty or cold about him and he often takes the bodies of large men, bathing the bodies in fresh perfumes and oils to give him the allure of life. To any who have met him, they would call him warm and approachable, always quick to dispense snippets of wisdom or offer a joke. It is that nature that causes him to be easily underestimated by the other families as a harmless old man with a few secrets…however, what the families do not possess that Zulaca does is perspective. Zulaca makes his plans and acquisitions spread out during scores of years, while most families only plan within their lifetime. His is the only dynasty that can say their progenitor still guides it with the steady and thoughtful hand it had since the beginning. That vision is enduring, and his defenses against the wiles the other dynasties can produce are legendary and Machiavellian in scope.
Perhaps strangest about Carthrys is his policy on slaves.
The old nuit has no progeny of his own, nor can he produce any. In this absence, he’s taken a policy that allows slaves to elevate themselves to members of his dynasty with the same rights as the other upper class in Kenash. Trusted slaves that catch his interest, either with special talent or particularly fervent passion are chosen by Zulaca to become members of his family. They become tattooed with the white starburst which names them as Zulaca, rather than slaves. Although many of the dynasties still look down on them and refuse to consider themselves in the same class, Zulaca’s power has forced the families to at least adopt a modicum of respect for those he chooses. Of course, to be elevated, one must be exceptional. Zulaca prides himself on immediately identifying the potential of a seed. He is sometimes known to visit other plantations and buy particularly difficult slaves…sometimes even slaves who would be considered worthless otherwise.
Few, however, can match the passion by which the Zulaca dynasty protect their own. Innately, most of the slaves hold a strong disdain to the other families, which makes it a city against them. Their bonds are nearly unbreakable and it has never been heard of for a member of the Zulaca family to reveal a secret or to plot against their own. Zulaca saved them from perdition and gave them purpose, and for that, he earns their devotion.
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by Gossamer on March 22nd, 2013, 7:22 pm 
